The Strykers

Dr. Richard Lane Stryker III

Introduction of Pastor

Look back to 1992, find a young pastor who served as one of the two founding pastors for a multiethnic congregation, Good Samaritan UMC in Memphis, add a number of years of ministry in North Alabama and eight years of the Bishop’s Cabinet including six years as a District Superintendent, and two years as Executive Director of Ethnic Ministries and one gets the current pastor of River of Living Water UMC, Dr. Richard Lane Stryker III.

Ordained in 1986, and having lived through part of Liberia’s civil war, he brings a pastor’s heart, the passion of a social activist and a prophetic call to reach all persons with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Stryker began serving in North Alabama in 1997 at Rising Star UMC. He also served St. Paul in Birmingham and St. Thomas in Sylacauga before being appointed District Superintendent in 2007.

A champion for outreach ministry, he served as the Conference Disaster Response Coordinator and was instrumental in leading the North Alabama Conference in its relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

He is married to Jennie Elizabeth, a registered nurse. Their son is Waddy and daughter is Finda.

A lifelong learner, Dr. Stryker earned a Bachelor of Theology degree from Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary, Master of Arts in Religion and Master of Divinity degrees from Memphis Theological Seminary, and Doctor of Ministry from The School of Theology at University of the South.

     He has published three books:

• "Multiracial Church Dynamics: Possibilities & Challenges"

• "Forged from Chaos: Stories and Reflections from Liberia at War"

• "21st Century Greed:

Stryker notes, “This is an exciting time to be in pastoral ministry and appreciates the opportunity to serve as spiritual leader of  River of Living Water UMC in Jasper, Alabama. We have a church poised for growth and continually equipping itself to reach each new people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”